MEGA NEWS!MEGA! AMERICAN BITTERN again east of Owenahincha on lake north of road at Castlefreke, County Cork, Ireland.MEGA! WESTERN RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE 1w (form meena) again in garden at Ladysmith Road on West side at Scalloway, Shetland.

MEGA NEWS!MEGA! AMERICAN BITTERN again at Owenahincha on lake below Castlefreke, County Cork, Ireland.MEGA! WESTERN RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE 1w (form meena) again in garden at top of Houl Road, Scalloway, Shetland.

Sunday, 22 November 2015

My sister Lucy attended the Royal College of Music in London many, many years ago – her first instrument is violin and second is piano. Lucy has had to cope with so many tough things in her life, which is way too long a story for now. She hasn't played in an orchestra for about ten years, although she regularly plays her violin at home. Recently, she decided she wanted to join an orchestra again. For the last couple of months I have been taking her weekly to rehearsals with the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra and tonight along with my youngest sister Vivien, we watched her play violin at the Corn Exchange in King's Lynn. I am so proud of her and what she has achieved, it brought tears to my eyes and it was so nice to see her name in print in the programme. For anyone that's interested, here are the details of the concert:

One of the most popular and well loved pieces in the classical
repertoire - Dvořak’s ‘New World Symphony’ will be performed alongside a
rare concert hall outing for Stravinsky’s witty and boisterous Jeu de
Cartes, his ‘Ballet in Three Deals’ based on the card game of poker.
Joining them will be Elgar’s masterpiece of a symphonic poem for
strings.

As I'm sure some of you have noticed, I haven't posted very much lately, tweeted much or been birding much or done anything much at all to be honest! I had a mini breakdown, just over a couple of weeks ago and have been off work to recover – I go back to work tomorrow and just hope I'm not going back to soon – I will find out in the morning! The constant worry of my parent's situation with my Father's failing health and life in general just got to me. I have found it almost impossible to leave the house, even to go birding and have been sleeping alot. Frustratingly that has also mean't I have missed out on some top draw seawatching this weekend and would dearly loved to have seen the Humpbacked Whale at Winterton – oh well. I did go and see the Hoopoe at Crostwick, but only got rubbish distant pictures. I hope to get back to normal birding soon and back to normality in general.

MEGA NEWS! MEGA! SNOWY OWL unconfirmed report yesterday ENE of Scunthorpe +1.25 miles south of Appleby just of B1207 over fields by Common Plantation, viewed from train in afternoon – Appleby, Lincolnshire.

MEGA NEWS!MEGA! CRAG MARTIN again, on and around Football Club Proact Stadium and then over crooked spire at church of St Mary's + All Saints at Chesterfield, Derbyshire.MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Kinvarra Bay, County Galway, Ireland.

Saturday, 7 November 2015

I'm not in a good place right now, because of recent events and maybe the entire year to be honest and other stuff that has occurred in my life over the years. It's all caught up with me – like a fast speed train that's just crashed. I don't feel able to operate as I would normally do, so have to take one day at a time. For my recent blog followers, this year alone included my Father breaking his hip, being in hospital with that, being admitted a second time a few weeks later, changing my job twice, my house being severely smoke-damaged from next door's fire and my Father's second stroke this October which I found especially difficult with him being on my own ward. Then throw in all the other general stuff that life throws at you and well...... your body and mind can only take so much! Yes, of course there has been positive things too, but the negatives have definitely outweighed them this year!

Today I managed to get out late afternoon for some me time and much needed fresh air. Luckily it was the best part of the day. It's been pouring with rain all day with strong winds, but around 2.30pm the sun came blazing out. I spent my 'me' time at Holme – a place where I have spent so many hours as a youngster, but much less so nowadays, mainly because of the massive increase in holidaymakers/day trippers and the huge increase in loose dogs. I couldn't have picked a better time or day to go to Holme beach – because of the heavy rain all day, the beach was almost empty aside from one couple with a small dog in the very far distance, I had the entire beach to myself – what a treat!

Holme Beach, Norfolk

Broad Water at Holme NOA

I parked in the NOA car park and walked across to the beach and then
east, as far as Thornham Harbour in search of a Desert Wheatear. The light was incredible – dark and dramatic clouds, mixed with fluffy white wisps into bright blue skies, merging with dark blue sea and almost white sands in this beautiful light. A nice surprise of 21 Snow Buntings flew over my head west. Lots of gulls and Brent Geese distantly in the harbour. Walked through the dunes to Thornham Bank and walked back on the boardwalk alongside the Broadwater, which held lots of Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Shelduck and 2 Mute Swans. Chatted with Sophie, Warden at Holme Bird Observatory and renewed my NOA membership. We both had fabulous views of a Peregrine that bombed in and was over our heads for a few moments before it sped off – the colours in the sunshine were awesome! Didn't have time to get the camera out though – all too quick! A Stonechat was perched on the brambles on the other side of the Broadwater, along with a Common Buzzard on a post distantly and also a Marsh Harrier hunting. Watched the sunset over the Broadwater and then visited my parents briefly before returning home.

Weather doesn't look exactly brilliant for the weekend with rain and strong winds! Still awaiting that Norfolk Mega! Maybe, just maybe the Black-and-white Warbler will re-locate, how cool would that be!

MEGA NEWS!MEGA! BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER by Worceser Cathedral between College Green and River Severn in yew of garden of Dean's cottage briefly at 1.30pm.MEGA! BLYTH'S PIPIT at The Warren then flew south, Spurn, Yorkshire.MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL again at Marazion, Little London, Cornwall.

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Raining and dull as ditch water ALL day. Jobs in the morning and then out to find that very elusive mega in the afternoon.

Headed to Burnham Overy Dunes again. Short-eared Owl sitting in the hedge in almost the same spot as before, just east of the track after the stile! The track to the sea wall was extremely muddy.

In the bushes at the end of the track I found a very elusive Chiffchaff in the apple tree, which I only got a couple of glimpses of before it dived deep for cover, along with a Hedgesparrow, one Robin and a Blackbird. Headed west to Gun Hill.

At Gun Hill I found nothing at all, until I walked towards the bushes immediately seaward side of the hill. Suddenly I spotted something colourful moving around on the sand underneath a rosehip spray. Heart beating, I lifted my bins to see an rusty orange breast – the bird then flicked up to perch on the bush, revealing itself as a female Stonechat! So, ok it wasn't a mega, but still nice to see and unexpected. Thinking about it, I can't ever remember seeing a Stonechat in these bushes before. Also saw a Wren here, sneaking around the lower branches of the almost bare elder bush.

Finding the Stonechat heightened my senses and I searched hard for another good bird. I walked back across the top of the dunes, pishing bushes on route. Found some cracking earth stars, but no other birds revealed themselves sadly. Walked back in the dusk, rain and gloom to my car.

Visited my parents briefly to deliver a new lamp for Mother and a couple of items from Burnham Deepdale garage shop. 'Careline' has been installed in their house today, mainly for Mother's use – which will give me some peace of mind, that is if she wears the call bell! Father looked a better colour today and had slept right through the night, without attempting to get out of bed!

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Its been such a horrible day and right now I feel pretty low and depressed and that's putting it mildly! I don't really feel I've been on holiday this past few days at all to be honest.

I was woken at 2am by my Mother who was hysterical – Father wasn't well and she was having a job to get him back into bed – I don't know how or why he got out, but he was. I felt I just couldn't go out – I felt incapable of leaving the house at that time. It may sound mean, but I just couldn't. It wasn't a life and death situation after all, otherwise I would have gone without question. Mother had the option of calling an emergency team, but chose not to after getting him back into bed and into a fairly reasonable position. I won't go into the gory details of why he wasn't well, but the drug he is newly on called Clopidogrel, had made him bleed.

I lay there feeling guilty about not going out and basically didn't really sleep, so might as well have gone anyway. I phoned my Mother at 6.20am who had just rung the emergency team because this was the THIRD time he had got out of bed, but this time she couldn't get him back. He was sitting on the floor next to the bed. The falls team she normally rings were not able to come out and she was asked to ring the paramedics, who came out pretty quickly.

I jumped in the shower, chucked some gear in a bag and flew over to Holme. Three paramedics were still there when I arrived. An electrician rang me to say he was coming out to look at the dodgy double socket. I could tell from this moment on, it was going to be a full on, stressful and rubbish day. The paramedics were nicely lecturing my Mother about how it was time she looked after herself and how could she possibly continue to care for Father etc etc. All his obs were fine and I think the paramedics also thought the bleeding could have been due to the drug which is a side effect in some cases, but obviously they couldn't be sure. They also told us the hospital was in black alert and that there only two beds available earlier this morning in the entire hospital – what a crazy situation! They asked us to phone Father's GP to get someone to come out, which Mother did. The paramedics got a few home truths from me, which made Mother furious.

Anyway, long story short, after they left we then attended to Father. He was exhausted and looked really pale, which is hardly surprising after a night of no sleep, Mother didn't look much better either. I made him eat a banana first of all, to give him some energy. He was cold – washed his top half and put on my new thermal birthday vest, shirt and thick jumper. Then he had breakfast which Mother made and I helped him with. Then he fell asleep poor man, he was exhausted.

The rest of the morning consisted of helping Mother to tidy up from all that went on. Dealing with the electrician who was brilliant (Lighthouse Contract Ltd from Hunstanton). Then we got a phone call from the fire service (who I had contacted earlier this week) who then came out to fit two smoke alarms. Mother wrote the shopping list and I went to Hunstanton to do her shopping (didn't see any point in doing on-line shopping whilst I was there!). Then went into Hughes Electrical to order a Dimplex heater for her. Returned home to find the Community Matron attending, who didn't really help that much to be honest, apart from advising to leave off the Clopidogrel for a few days and then continue with it again, then stop again if today's side effects returned. I spoke to Father's GP on the phone afterwards about the situation.

Next job – rang the Incontinence Team in Norwich to order more pads for Father, as Mother was almost out and had failed to tell me this until today. I did give her the number to ring ages ago, but she has lost it, as she does with most things in her non-organised filing system. I then had a phone call from an Admiralty nurse from Chatterton House (don't ask me what an Admiralty nurse is, I have no idea). They came out to see my parents a few weeks back and Mother had obviously given them my number and wanted to chat with me, to see how things were. The lady was quite taken back when I told her Father had had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and all of this morning's shenanigans. 'What are you doing tomorrow Penny?' she said. "Having a day off" I replied. Think she wanted to meet up to chat with me – it wouldn't have made any difference to the situation at all and I couldn't take any more. She is coming out later in the week to chat with Mother about the whole situation.

At 3pm I left the house for a short walk before I went crazy. Why had a Pallas's Warbler turned up at Burnham Overy Staithe and when I go out, I find nothing – I give up. A single bl**dy blackbird was all I kicked up, along the whole length of Gypsy Lane at Titchwell! Went up to Choseley Drying Barns, nothing. Went back to parents. Father still asleep. I crashed out on his bed and also had a snooze. Assisted Father with personal stuff and then washed his bottom half, soaked feet in bowl and shaved him and dressed bottom half in night attire ready for later. Helped him with his tea. I heated up some soup for me and 2 slices of bread. Lucy rang and then Vivien rang later to get updates.

Watched a bit of Autumn Watch, but got very bored watching bl**dy stags and deer's, so switched off. Mother went to put the stray cat in the shed (where it sleeps at night) and it decided to bolt off up the road. Just to explain about the cat – another crazy thing that goes on in the Clarke household – Mother adores this cat and makes hot water bottles for its bed in the shed every night and won't go to bed herself until the cat is in her house, at which point she carries the cat to the shed where it stays all night until she lets it out until the morning (no I'm not joking). She doesn't let it stay in the house as is worried it will make a mess etc. I knew Mother wouldn't go to bed tonight until she had got the cat, so I wasn't having it playing us up. I slipped out of the front door with torch in hand to catch the cat. It could see me coming after it and decided to play games - under a hedge, in someone's garden, ran a bit further into another garden, along a public path between houses – I kept with it, determined not be beaten. It stopped momentarily and was unexpectedly grabbed and hugged tightly just in case it had any bright ideas of escaping, whilst I walked all the way back to the shed with it and plonked it crossly in its spoilt rug/bottle bed!!!! There was I, thinking Mother would be pleased and I got told off - UNBELIEVABLE!!! Why you ask? 'Has the cat been for a wee she said'? 'Yes' I lied!! So Mother was then happy that I had got the cat!

Back in the house, I got Father into bed at about 8.45pm and into a comfortable position. I don't know how my Mother gets him into bed herself – he's a sturdy, heavy man to move into side lying by yourself, even for me. I gave him a lecture about not getting out of bed until 7.30am tomorrow and then reassured him, said good night and left. This situation at home is only going to get worse, something needs sorting soon!!! Mother agrees he will have to into a home if she can't transfer him any longer with the sturn, but its heartbreaking as none of us want him in a residential home. I would look after him myself if I could, but its not possible. Difficult times indeed.

Happy Birthday to my dear Father. I didn't think he would make it to be honest, but he has – so very pleased he has. I spent a long time last night, making him a big birthday card, made of my Red-spotted Bluethroat picture which I took in May of this year.

Picked Lucy up and headed to Holme. Vivien is working today and had spent time with Father yesterday. We had chores to do on the way, including picking some goods up for someone from Heacham Lavender shop. I am almost ashamed to say as a local person, that I have never stepped foot in this shop until today! Lucy and I were like kids in a sweet shop – this shop is incredibly exciting – you name it, they sold it! Aside from the obvious lavender gifts, there was all sorts of things to entice you, from elaborate chocolates and cakes, unusual greeting cards, Christmas decorations, fluffy toys, candles, jewellery and the list goes on. What really caught my eye was the very beautiful teddy collection – I fell in love immediately with two bears. I used to collect bears you see, I just adore a bear that has character. As soon as I picked one of the bears up, it felt heavy and screamed quality – I just knew it was going to be expensive..... £64.99. If I had been minted, I would have bought both, sighed and tore myself away!

Next stop Sainsburys to get a few things for Mother, then to Hughes Electrical shop to enquire about some things for parents, then to Holme. Fish 'n' chip birthday lunch from the posh chippie at the farm shop complex at Thornham which was very nice. Helped Father to open his presents after lunch, then he had a long nap, whilst we all sat in the dining room.

At tea time we sang Happy Birthday and lit three three candles on his coffee cake, which he managed to blow out – just! Vivien had bought a very cool card where you record your own message and we listened to Vivien singing Happy Birthday! Really weird that both my Mother and Lucy had bought a card for Father with a Humming Bird on – totally different designs but both the same humming bird and both facing left – Lucy thought it was spooky! Father started to get really tired. Both parents are still operating on the old time. We left around 7pm which to them was 8pm! Very foggy as Lucy and I drove back to King's Lynn.

Sunday, 1 November 2015

It was dense fog when I peeped out of the curtains first thing this morning, so I returned to snooze and then woke up ridiculously late – I obviously needed the sleep. With the sun now blazing and a stunning day to be enjoyed, I headed east to Burnham Overy Dunes.

Fog was looming as I headed out to the dunes. A Blackbird was in the big sallow just past the hedge-lined track. A massive flock of at least fifty Redwings flew west over my head. I had just climbed over the stile and was scanning the marsh, when a fabulous Short-eared Owl came into view – sitting at the bottom of the hedge that runs east of the 5-bar farm gate. For a moment I was thinking Long-eared, but shape and yellow eyes confirmed Short-eared Owl.

I continued along the sea wall to the bushes at the end and found only a Hedge Sparrow. One hundred and fifty Cormorants flew over east – not in all one go I hasten to add! Nothing skulking in the apple tree sadly. I headed east, following the path along the fence and found a lovely female Stonechat perched on a bramble bush. I walked down the dune slope to the hollow with bushes, but no birds here at all. I headed back and spent the rest of the time trying to find something in the good bushes/apple tree. I managed to see a good little selection of birds in here by the time I left: a Male and a female Blackcap creeping in and out of the brambles, 3 Hedgesparrows, Chaffinches x 2, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit and also at the last second a Goldcrest appeared briefly in the apple tree! Funny how I didn't see any of these when I searched the first time – it does make you wonder what else was in the depths of the brambles – maybe something bright yellow and garish or then again maybe not!

The fog was dense now and with the pink streaks of the sunset, it looked very atmospheric. I saw a Short-eared Owl hunting in the midst of the foggy marsh and skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew over as I walked back in the icy cold air. Two Bats (smallish) were flying around my car just before I left – don't know what they were – not very good on bat ID!

SEARCH MY BLOG

FOLLOW BY EMAIL

MY TWITTER FEED

Subscribe To My Youtube Channel

BLOG STATS!

I have a minimum of 4,000+ views a day, this can rise to 8,000 a day when I've posted and added photographs of a very rare bird or a popular post! Therefore, my blog is an excellent place to advertise. CleySpy who currently advertise with me (scroll to top) 'have more hits on their website via my blog than they do on google'! If you wish to place a natural history related advert on here, please email me at pennyclarke@dsl.pipex.com to discuss.

Total Pageviews Of My Blog – Live!

Translate

I M A G E S

If you wish to purchase an image as a print or digital file for personal use or publication, please send an email to: pennyclarke@dsl.pipex.comP R I N T SHigh quality prints are available at the following prices:

SEARCH MY BLOG

PHOTOGRAPHS

The following are a small selection of my photographs since 2010. Use the SEARCH MY BLOG facility, to search for more photographs to view or purchase. Clicking on the picture will take you to my post on the day.